Universal storage system

ABSTRACT

The Universal Storage System is an L-Shaped unit with a vertical divider which fits into the shaft.  
     The removable divider is irregular in shape and angular to fit into the chair shaped cavity at the rear of the unit, where its purpose is to separate the contents.  
     There are also two (2) hinged lids, one (1) that covers the loading area located at the top of the unit and one (1) that covers the dispensing area which is located on the “seat” part of the unit.  
     The overall height of the unit is 22″ in length×13″ in width with four 6″ long legs that evenly support the unit and can be removed for wall mounting.  
     The L-shaped frontal view of the unit measures 13″ in width by 16½″ in length and extends outward 6″ in depth and then downwards an additional 5½″ (like a small straight back chair).

BACKGROUND

[0001] There are several units under patent of similar design and/or function but most are use and content specific. None have been created in the form of a decorative accessory that is unlimited in use. An assortment of decorative materials can be used in its design, including, wood, laminate and acrylic. My goal is to collaborate with developers and have the units installed as an accessory/fixture in newly-constructed homes.

SUMMARY

[0002] The Universal Storage System is an L-shaped dispenser with a vertical divider in the shaft which separates it into 2 dispensing sections enabling the storage and release of dual items. The unit is designed to stand free style or mounted in the bathroom or kitchen and to store everything from toilet paper to canned sodas and fruit. The lower horizontal area of retrieval is covered with a hinged lid which exposes access to the contents. Multiple items can be are stored in the shaft of the unit and released one time at a time on a vertical path.

SPECIFICATION

[0003] The overall size of the unit is larger to accommodate the dual dispensing of items and can be displayed as a free-standing system or wall mounted. In keeping with consumer design trends, the unit can be displayed in the bathroom or kitchen in a variety of materials that will compliment any decor, while serving as a functioning, decorative piece of storage furniture.

[0004] Other units similar in concept and/or use have been previously patented:

[0005] 1. U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,448 issued in 1974 to Rakaska is and L-shaped tissue paper roll dispenser having an upper vertically-oriented portion through which tissue paper rolls are fed. The top of the vertical portion includes a hinged lid. A lower, horizontally-oriented portion includes a vertical stop-wall at its forward most extent. Tissue paper rolls may be removed, at will, from the open top of the forward end of the horizontal portion.

[0006] 2. U.S. Design Pat. No. 2,859,993 issued to Genna in 1986 shows a dispenser bin having an L-shape, where articles are fed through the top of a vertically oriented portion and are prevented from traveling along a horizontal path by a front-most vertically-oriented stop wall.

[0007] 3. U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,639 issued to Deberry in 1991 shows a dispense for road flares wherein the vertically-stacked articles are dispensed from a lower opening in response to downward pressure on a spring-loaded inclined plane.

[0008] 4. U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,177 issued to Jackson in 1961 shows a tissue paper dispenser where the rolls follows a vertical path.

[0009] 5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,469 issued to McCarthy in 1978 shows a toilet paper roll holder where the bottom most roll in a stack may be held in place by a spindle, and where new rolls may be fed from above as the paper runs out.

[0010] 6. U.S. Pat. No. 2,605,975 issued Page in 1952 shows a toilet paper roll dispenser where the rolls follow a vertical path. Pages uses a more complex mechanism for feeding the rolls into place for use.

[0011] 7. U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,932 issued to Pena in 1964 shows a vertically oriented toilet tissue dispenser where the current roll in use is dispensed from an opening in the lower end of the side wall of the dispenser.

[0012] 8. U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,626 issued to Casteel in 1966 shows a vertically-oriented tissue roll dispenser where rolls are fed toward the top of the dispenser.

[0013] I, Tamani Ethel Brice, have invented a new design for a storage unit, as set forth in the following specification. The claimed storage unit can be used in the bathroom for storing toilet paper or in the kitchen for storing paper towels and related items. The unit is designed with legs to stand freestyle or can be designed without legs for wall mounting.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a storage unit showing my new design

[0015]FIG. 2 is a side evevational view of the unit showing a unique smoothly curved arced wall in the transition between the verticle and horizontical portion of the device.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof:

[0017]FIG. 4 is the verticle divider which fits into the shaft and separates contents.

[0018]FIG. 5 is the leg of the unit for free standing use. Legs can be removed for wall mounting.

[0019]FIG. 6 is the side view illustration showing the detailed hinged horizontal lids and the route in which the roll travels and is positioned for retrieval.

[0020]FIG. 7 is an architectural schematic detailing size and dimensions.

[0021] I claim: the design for a storage unit as shown. 

1. I claim that the UJniversal Storage System is patentable because athough there arce other patented units offering similar fuictions, the Universal Storage System is tie only one with a removable divider that allows it to hold items of vD sizes. As a result, it is aot content specific and can be used in many ways. The unit can be used in the batroom area for storing toilet paper or in the kitchen for string paper towels, canned goods and related items which can be released in pais or individually if the divider is removed. The unit is shaped like a high-back chair which adds to the decorative appeal and multi-fiction capabilities. The unit can be constructed out of wood, laminate or acrylic and secured with standard screws and hinges. Although there are several units under patent of similar design an&dor imction, most are use and content specific. None have been created in the form of a decorative accessory that is unlimited in use. My goal is to market the Oroto-type to manufacturersidistributors for display and sale in stores like Target, K-Mart, as well as through mail-order outlets with similar product lines. I will also collaborate with new home developers to have the units installed as a featured accessory/fixture in newly-constructed homes. 